Kim's Favorite Cheese Dip & New Year's Eve Party Favors

I haven't forgotten my promise for the drop noodle soup recipe, but in the mean time, here's my favorite jalapeno cheddar dip just in case any of you need something for New Year's eve. The recipe is featured at one of our favorite local restaurants and comes with warmed pretzels. It's great with crackers too.

The recipe makes quite a bit, so feel free to do the math and cut it in half.

3 LB Cheddar (shredded)
3 LB Cream Cheese (I used the lite version and it's fine)
2 Tbs Garlic powder
2 Tbs Onion powder
2 Tbs White pepper
1/2 cup Jalapenos
2 cups Jalapeno Juice
2 Tbs Parsley flakes

Combine all ingredients in a chopper until smooth. Keep in refrigerator. Serve with pretzels or crackers. Yummy!!

Although our New Year's eve is quite tame (board games, our favorite appetizers, and maybe a DVD), I love to bust out the party hats and horns. I went to our local Dollar Tree store in search of discounted Christmas garland and party supplies.

For our festive party hats, I took discounted Christmas garland, measured it to the length of the headband and secured it with scotch tape and staples to give it a bit more glam.

For our party horns, I took star wire garland (found in the birthday aisle), secured one end with tape, wound it around the horn, taped and cut it to length. I then took the same gold Christmas garland that we used on our party hats and taped it around the inside of the horn.

Josie then helped me scoop 3-hole paper punch confetti into clear bags. I know. It's going to be messy, but it's only New Year's eve one night a year!!

Happy soon-to-be 2010!!